PADI SWIM SCHOOL

The PADI Swim School curriculum
consists of courses containing age appropriate activities that focus on aquatic
skill development of core competencies. The curriculum is built around the
concept that there are con aquatic skills (competencies) that every person
needs to know to be proficient in the water. The core competencies provide the
foundation that will enable students to first learn functional self-survival skills,
then learn correct swimming stroke technique by building upon what they already
know.

The courses include:

Star Babies/Tots

Swim School (preschool, youth, adult)

Stroke School

The curriculum also includes several
special programs that integrate, adapt or build upon the core courses:

Angle Fish

Swim Team

Swim Prep for Scuba

Prescriptive Course

Star Fun and Fitness

Learning Stages

The five core competencies remain
the same regardless of the age of the student, and represent the stage of skill
development. For example, a student of any age must first develop the
competency of trust before being able to learn other skills. The stage of skill
development is identified by a color, listed lowest to highest below:

White

Red

Yellow

Blue

Green

Benchmark

Benchmarks is a specific skill that,
when performed, demonstrates that the student has achieved the core competency.
The competency and benchmark approach is similar to achieving belts in martial
arts. The StarBabies, Swim School, and Stroke School courses in the curriculum
each have five benchmarks that the student should work toward mastering.

By having just a few benchmarks,
both the instructor and student can focus on earning that achievement. This
focus helps instructors teach appropriate lead-up skills and choose games and
activities that help achieve the goal. The outcome is focused teaching that
gets results,

Your primary role as a swim instructor
is to facilitate learning activities that help your students perform the
benchmarks.

StarBabies
and StarTots (Adult / Infant Toddler)

The purpose of this course is to foster
in very young children a high comfort level in the water while at the same time
train the adults who accompany them in water safety and drowning prevention.
This course does not teach children to become accomplished swimmers or to
survive in the water, it does provide a confidence-building fun and loving
experience. One adult must be in the water with each child Swim diapers are
required.

Swim
School

The core competencies for Swim
School include functional life-safety water skill that focus on self-rescue and
water safety concepts. This foundation prepares the student to learn swimming
strokes in the Stroke School.

For
Preschoolers. Designed to meet the needs of children ages 3 to 5, this
course will develop a high comfort level in the water and a readiness to swim,
and for those children who ate developmentally ready, will teach functional swim
skills. This class teaching approaches through creative swimming, fun
activities in the water. Students work toward developing the five competencies
and progress toward achieving the benchmarks at their own pace in a small group
setting.

For
youth.
Students work toward development of the five core competencies swimming using
age-appropriate learning activities. Learning is self-paced, but challenging.

For
Teens and Adults. This course is designed to improve comfort and skill in the
water, regardless of past swimming experience. Students work toward developing
the five basic core Swimming competencies using principles of adult learning.

Stroke
School

This course is for students of all
ages who have achieved the green Swim School benchmarks. Students develop endurance,
refine freestyle, and learn stroke technique for Backstroke, butterfly and
breaststroke.

Special
Programs

Special programs are designed to
expand the ability of a PADI Swim School training center to reach students who
wish to pursue special interests, as well as get varied groups involved in exploring aquatic activities.

Angle Fish

This activities program is designed
to provide comprehensive swim instruction for students with special needs.
Classes provide adaptations to make the students as independent and successful
in the water as possible. Adaptive equipment may be required.
Instructor-to-student ratios will depend upon the needs and ability levels of
the students. Instructors must complete additional training to be authorized to
teach students Angelfish.

Swim Prep for Scuba

This course is a hybrid of Swim
School and Stroke School designed to be taught in a clinic or format session
with a specific goal in mind: getting the student confident and competent to
enroll in a Scuba course.

The Individual Aquatic Plan

The Individual Aquatic Planprovides
custom personalized instruction for private and small group audiences.

Swim Team

Swim Teamcan be delivered as
a year-round or seasonal program. Students learn and refine the competitive
strokes plus develop an understanding of basic training principles such as
using a pace clock, starts and tums, and racing. This program is a great
introduction to competitive swimming in low-key environment.

StarFun and Fitness

StarFun and Fitness programs provide
activities for children in a group setting such as home school, after-school
programs, and school field trips, camps, parties, and scout troops. Each
session begins with an introduction, then focuses on two lifetime aquatic
skills and ends with a wrap-up activity. The StarFun and Fitness activities
introduce children to lifetime aquatic skills and include water safety, swim
skill development, fitness swimming, water exercise, pool games, introduction
to triathlon, introduction to snorkeling, skin diving and scuba diving, and
introduction to kayaking.

Home School and After School. The most common delivery for this
program is eight one-hour sessions, with each focusing on a different class lifetime
aquatic and safety skills. The curriculum may be expanded to last a full
semester. Partner with local home school associations and elementary schools
for target groups.

Field Tips. The most common delivery for this
program is one 2.5hour session and includes introduction to the facility and
rules, segments of selected of lifetime aquatic skills, lifeguard rescue
demonstrations, unstructured swim time, and concludes with an overview and
wrap-up. Adults must be present with the student groups at all times.

Holidays or Parties. Parties may be themed for a
specific holiday or birthday. the most common delivery for this program is one
3-hour session which includes introduction to the facility and rule, segments
of selected lifetime aquatic skills, a snack and video break, unstructured swim
time, and concludes with an overview and wrap up.

Camp. The most common delivery for this
program is four 2.5-hour sessions Each session begins with an introduction,
focuses on two lifetime aquatic skills, and concludes with unstructured swim
time

Scouts. The most common delivery for this
program is one 8-hour session which may accommodate an entire scout council in one day.
Sessions may be divided up if working with individual troops. Troop leaders and
older scouts may assist StarFun and Fitness instructors. Scouts participate in
various aquatic skills stations designed to meet badge requirements, as
coordinated with the scout council.